Best Schools for Visual and Performing Arts, Other

Visual and Performing Arts, Other graduates earn a median of $49,193 within four years of graduating, ranking #254 out of 283 tracked majors — 21% below the median across all fields. There are 19 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 330 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of California-San Diego graduates earn $64,822 while Berklee College of Music graduates earn $37,117 — a $27,705 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: Visual and Performing Arts, Other graduates see an average 11% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

19
Schools
$49,193
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#254
of 283 Majors
330
Graduates

Public vs Private: Visual and Performing Arts, Other

Public (8 schools)
$53,073
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (11 schools)
$43,375
avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Visual and Performing Arts, Other, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Visual and Performing Arts, Other by State

Top Visual and Performing Arts, Other Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
University of California-San Diego logo

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$64,822
4yr Earnings
31 grads
2yr: $26,353 (14)
1yr: $37,732 (29)
Acceptance: 24.5%
#2
University of South Florida logo

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public

$53,756
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
2yr: $30,771 (13)
1yr: $27,170 (24)
Acceptance: 41.0%
#3
SUNY at Purchase College logo

SUNY at Purchase College

Purchase, NY · Public

$53,100
4yr Earnings
44 grads
2yr: $38,289 (48)
1yr: $35,399 (45)
Acceptance: 72.8%
#4
Portland State University logo

Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public

$51,248
4yr Earnings
16 grads · small sample
Acceptance: 90.9%
#5
Illinois State University logo

Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public

$49,774
4yr Earnings
29 grads · small sample
2yr: $33,565 (24)
1yr: $20,419 (19)
Acceptance: 89.0%
#6
Columbia University in the City of New York logo

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private

$46,535
4yr Earnings
31 grads
2yr: $31,127 (26)
1yr: $37,826 (44)
Acceptance: 4.2%
#7
New York University logo

New York University

New York, NY · Private

$45,991
4yr Earnings
73 grads
2yr: $33,138 (98)
1yr: $30,081 (72)
Acceptance: 9.4%
#8
Clemson University logo

Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public

$45,735
4yr Earnings
18 grads · small sample
2yr: $28,598 (18)
1yr: $24,202 (23)
Acceptance: 38.0%
#9
Millikin University logo

Millikin University

Decatur, IL · Private

$43,858
4yr Earnings
19 grads · small sample
2yr: $22,999 (11)
Acceptance: 54.0%
#10
Berklee College of Music logo

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MA · Private

$37,117
4yr Earnings
64 grads
2yr: $16,786 (57)
1yr: $20,397 (57)
Acceptance: 49.9%
#11
Baldwin Wallace University logo

Baldwin Wallace University

Berea, OH · Private

$39,927
2yr Earnings
17 grads · small sample
1yr: $25,829 (17)
Grads: 17
Acceptance: 76.8%
#12
University of Chicago logo

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL · Private

$38,289
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 4.8%
#13
Nazareth University logo

Nazareth University

Rochester, NY · Private

$32,029
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 79.5%
#14
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor logo

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$27,488
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 17.9%
#15
Cornell University logo

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY · Private

$27,439
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 8.2%
#16
Elon University logo

Elon University

Elon, NC · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 67.3%
#17
Brigham Young University logo

Brigham Young University

Provo, UT · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.2%
#18
W

Wells College

Aurora, NY · Private

$21,964
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 69.7%
#19
Grambling State University logo

Grambling State University

Grambling, LA · Public

$9,375
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 23.7%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Visual and Performing Arts, Other?
University of California-San Diego ranks #1 for Visual and Performing Arts, Other with median graduate earnings of $64,822 within four years of graduating. There are 19 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Visual and Performing Arts, Other graduates earn?
Visual and Performing Arts, Other graduates earn an average of $49,193 within four years of graduating. This is 21% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $37,117 to $64,822 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Visual and Performing Arts, Other program?
The average acceptance rate across Visual and Performing Arts, Other programs is 46.9%. The most selective program is at Columbia University in the City of New York with a 4.2% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.
Is a public or private school better for Visual and Performing Arts, Other?
Private Visual and Performing Arts, Other programs average $43,375 in early earnings vs $53,073 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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